US Government Quiz

The Speaker of the House

• is the most powerful officer in Congress.

• is appointed by the president.

• must belong to the same political party as the president.

• cannot be elected to more than two consecutive terms.

The function of each party's caucus is to

• research proposed bills for select committees.

• assign bills to committees.

• choose party leaders.

• set priorities for committee business.

The Senate, unlike the House of Representatives, does not have the power to

• Pass laws regulating trade.

• introduce appropriation bills.

• try impeached officials.

• approve treaties.

If the president pro tempore is presiding in the Senate, it may be assumed that the

• president is absent.

• majority leader is absent.

• vice president is absent.

• floor leader is absent.

A member of the Senate must

• have been born in the U.S.

• be over 35 years old.

• have first been a representative in the House.

• have been a citizen of the U.S. for at least nine years.

Which national officials do voters directly elect?

• president and vice president

• supreme court justices

• senators and representatives

• cabinet members

For a bill to become a law, the

• it must approved by the President.

• House and Senate can together pass it.

• president must veto it.

• Speaker of the House must approve it.

Congress determines how the seats in the House are to be apportioned

• every ten years, after the census is taken.

• every three years, after the census has been taken.

• based on voter turn out after each presidential election.

• based on how many Republicans and Democrats are already in office.

If a state's population decreases, its number of senators

• decreases proportionally.

• stays the same.

• increases by one.

• is sent to the Supreme Court for evaluation.

Members of the house of Representatives must be all of the following EXCEPT:

• at least 25 years old.

• a U.S. citizen for at least seven years.

• a legal resident of the state they represent.

• practicing lawyers.